Illinois and Hawaii led the surge, with Illinois experiencing a 116.2% increase, driven by an influx of migrants in Chicago.

Migrants and asylum seekers made up over 13,600 people in emergency shelters across the region. Hawaii saw an 87% rise, with the aftermath of the Maui wildfires displacing thousands.

Massachusetts and New York reported increases exceeding 50%, with New York City noting that asylum seekers accounted for nearly 88% of its rise in sheltered homelessness.

Meanwhile, California remained home to nearly a quarter of the nation’s homeless population, with 66.3% of its homeless living in unsheltered conditions.

Family homelessness rose 39% nationwide, disproportionately affecting children and people identifying as Black or African American.

Experts point to the ongoing affordable housing crisis, the end of eviction moratoriums, and a lack of investment in housing solutions as key contributors to this alarming trend.

HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman emphasized the importance of evidence-based efforts to address homelessness, highlighting the urgency of tackling a crisis that continues to deepen across the country.

Homelessness in the United States surged to unprecedented levels in 2024, with federal data showing a significant 18.1% increase compared to 2023.